Tag: Support

We’re excited to announce today that YouthBuild Philly is one of 25 organizations in a national contest to win anywhere from $125,000 to $1,000,000 (yes, that’s one million dollars!) through the American Giving Awards program presented by Chase. The winners will be decided through online voting, starting November 27th and ending December 4th. Winning organizations will be announced at a nationally televised awards ceremony on December 8th.

We are the only program representing Philadelphia in this competition, and the only YouthBuild program. We’re so proud to represent both communities to a national audience. Contest-wide, we’re only up against 24 other organizations to win $1,000,000. The competition for the 5th-place $125,000 prize is just four other organizations doing work in Youth Development. We have a real shot at this – but we need your help!

To the many friends, family, and fans who made donations in support of our intrepid Spring Break Service Trip Volunteers: Thank you! The 7-day trip to Utuado, Puerto Rico was an unforgettable opportunity for YouthBuild students to participate in service learning while exploring a new culture and landscape. This trip wouldn’t have been possible without your support.

This year’s service learning opportunity included work clearing trails and roads on an organic coffee farm in central Puerto Rico. This was not an easy task – some of the fallen leaves in the surrounding forest were as big as our staff members! – but students persevered and even composed YouthBuild-themed chants to sustain their morale as they explored the new terrain. This work will count toward the 675 hours of volunteer service that every YouthBuild student must complete to graduate.

The group additionally traveled to several Puerto Rico landmarks, including an indigenous ceremonial site, a mountainside formation called Cueva Ventana, and the capitol city of San Juan:

“The highlight of the trip was to be in Puerto Rico,” said student Ciera Russum, who added that she’d never traveled somewhere predominantly Spanish-speaking. She also enjoyed trying new types of food while on the trip, and having the opportunity to deepen her friendships with other YouthBuild students.

Ciera’s only regret was that she did not bring a camera with her. Luckily for her – and those of us who stayed on the mainland for Spring Break – the YouthBuild staff who accompanied students on the trip took many terrific photos. For more of their pictures, check out our Spring Break 2012 photo set on Flickr!

Finishing in the Top 100 has now put us into the running for an even bigger prize – up to $500,000! You can check out our BIG IDEA video and learn how we will use the prize money.

We are the only program in Philadelphia, only Pennsylvania Charter School, only YouthBuild program, and one of only few AmeriCorps programs in the running for this prize, so we have a real shot, but we need your help.

Help YouthBuild Philadelphia win up to $100,000 from Gildan Genuine Stewardship by sharing why you support our school and students! The “I Support…” program is designed to encourage people to share how the charities they support are making a genuine positive impact on the world.

Student Shakila Alexander recently posted her story:

I think that YouthBuild is a blessing. I was never a bad student, but I wasn’t able to finish out my (final) high school year. After a year of being out of school, and having a job I wasn’t happy with, I decided to stop wasting (my) and my childrens’ time. I wanted to be something greater. Attending YouthBuild was one of the being things I could have done. My opportunities are endless now. I’m grateful that a school like YouthBuild exists.

Follow this link to our page to “Like” her story and others, then click “SUPPORT THIS CHARITY” to share your story.